Agricultural Vehicle Soil Damage Scoring for Traction Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural vehicles cause undesired soil compaction and get stuck in muddy areas due to varying loads as they travel across a field, affecting soil strength and traction.

Innovation Solution

A system that measures soil cone index and vehicle index to calculate a soil damage score, controlling the vehicle's operation to minimize soil damage by adjusting tire inflation, traction, and path planning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the vehicle travels over the field with varying load, then productivity is improved, but soil compaction increases and traction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle operation efficiencyVSAvoidsoil compaction

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts tire inflation pressure based on real-time soil conditions and vehicle load. As the vehicle travels across the field, the control system continuously monitors soil measures and vehicle index, then automatically varies tire pressure to optimize the balance between productivity and soil protection, preventing excessive compaction while maintaining operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes physical parameters (tire inflation pressure) in response to varying operational conditions. By adjusting this parameter based on the comparison between soil measure and vehicle index, the system adapts the vehicle's interaction with the soil to minimize harmful effects while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the vehicle increases traction control, then mobility in muddy areas is improved, but soil damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle mobilityVSAvoidsoil damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system adjusts tire inflation pressure as a controllable parameter to optimize traction without causing excessive soil damage. By varying this parameter based on real-time conditions, the vehicle can maintain reliable mobility in challenging terrain while minimizing harmful effects on the soil

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control system uses feedback from soil measures and vehicle index comparisons to automatically adjust traction control parameters. This closed-loop control ensures that traction is optimized for mobility while preventing soil damage, as the system continuously monitors conditions and adjusts accordingly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20260000009A1Controlling an agricultural vehicle based on soil damage score

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A soil measure, such as a soil cone index, and a vehicle index indicating the amount of force the vehicle exerts on the ground as it travels over the ground, are obtained and compared to identify a soil damage score. The soil damage score can be mapped over a field and an agricultural vehicle can be controlled based upon the soil damage score.